For students of Qianning High School, Senior Bailin was universally acknowledged as the goddess in every boy’s heart—a gentle, graceful presence radiating poise and dignity. Not a single male student would deny her breathtaking beauty or her awe-inspiring competence.
Some girls were pretty but lacked that certain aura, leaving them seeming ordinary by comparison.
Others carried an elegant demeanor but fell short in practical skill and the refined etiquette of a well-bred family.
Whether judged by figure, looks, grace, or ability, Bailin reigned unchallenged as number one. Gossipers even added "family background" to the list, widening the gap until other girls vanished into the distance.
When someone surpasses you slightly, envy might stir.
But when they soar beyond reach? Only awe remains.
Logically, as the brightest star at Qianning High, Senior Bailin should have had shadowy rumors clinging to her. After all, wasn’t it a cruel habit to tarnish something pure and beautiful?
Yet Bailin was different. Not a single scandal—nor even a dark whisper—had surfaced since she took over the Student Council.
This wasn’t due to icy aloofness. Quite the opposite: though she carried noble grace and wielded significant authority, she never put on airs. Even the most hostile students were gently persuaded by her.
Her rare, mature warmth made it hard to see her as a peer. Instinctively, everyone—even third-year seniors—addressed her with genuine respect: "Senior Bailin." How could anyone slander such a flawless, dependable person?
*[Today’s Senior Bailin feels so warm… Is it because new members are joining? Am I the first to see her like this?]*
Xu Peng, unusually distracted while assisting Senior Bailin, let his thoughts wander—a mistake he’d never make under normal circumstances. But today’s subtle shift in her expression, rich with unspoken charm, had stirred a seed deep within him.
Though he saw Senior Bailin almost daily and often worked alone with her—a privilege that sparked envy across campus—she’d never shown him favoritism. If anything, she held him to stricter standards.
Before, she’d been an unattainable flower on a lofty peak: a serene goddess meant only for distant admiration.
Had he not just witnessed that unexpectedly alluring smile, Xu Peng might have revered her as an elder forever.
Of course he’d had thoughts about the perfect Senior Bailin—it would be a lie to claim otherwise. But his longing wasn’t possessive. He simply wished… she could become his older sister.
Xu Peng and his sister Xu Xiaoyan had always clashed, their sibling bond thin and strained.
In his eyes, she lacked the gentle grace, dignified charm a true older sister should embody. She only corrected him, never understanding his heart. That wasn’t the sister he wanted.
Rebellious and bearing the rough features of a delinquent, Xu Peng had nearly sunk into a directionless, troublemaking existence by his first year.
Until one morning on his way to school, he witnessed a scene he’d never forget.
Passing a pastry shop, he’d glanced through the glass counter—and froze. There stood Bailin, selecting sweets, embodying his ideal older sister in every way.
Her soft, clear voice cooled his heart like a summer treat. He was utterly captivated, especially by her elegant gestures and kind face. It felt like his soul had slipped away.
That day, as Bailin walked past him bathed in sunlight, Xu Peng truly believed he’d glimpsed a perfect angelic sister.
The memory still lingered, vivid and sweet.
Their connection didn’t end there. Soon after the semester began, dragged unwillingly by his sister to run errands, Xu Peng encountered Senior Bailin again.
Unlike others who recoiled at his appearance, her eyes held only clear, warm delight when they met his. Every emotion was openly, gently written there.
In that moment, he’d nearly blurted out "Sister Bailin"—a ridiculous, yearning title.
And so it remained: his deepest wish was to truly call her that. Yes, he wanted Bailin as his older sister.
Sadly, he could never voice this to gentle Senior Bailin. Someone so kind would only agonize over such a request.
Now, after witnessing her unexpectedly alluring demeanor, that buried seed had begun to sprout within him—unstoppable.
Lost in memories of her, Xu Peng hadn’t noticed he’d stopped working. He simply stared at Bailin, calmly processing documents.
Had he seen his own reflection then, he’d have been shocked to find such tenderness softening his rough features.
Bailin paused her pen mid-signature, sensing his stillness. Her warm, tea-colored eyes lifted—sharp yet understanding—and pinned him in place.
"Is something wrong? You’ve been staring at me since just now."
"Ah… nothing! I’ve finished organizing these files. Anything else you need, Senior?"
Xu Peng, usually slow on the uptake, scrambled for an excuse. Being caught gawking like a creep would surely earn her disgust.
*Smooth lie under pressure—congrats, tsundere Xu Peng, you’ve unlocked a new skill!*
"I see. Nothing else for today. Leave the files here and head back."
"Got it."
He placed the completed stack to Bailin’s left. Leaning across the desk to reach her, Xu Peng froze mid-motion.
Bailin wore Qianning High’s summer uniform: a loose, white mandarin-collar shirt with sleeves ending mid-forearm. The top two buttons hung undone. From Xu Peng’s angle, past the curve of her snow-pale neck and delicate collarbone, he glimpsed the soft swell of skin and the deep valley beyond…
**BOOM!!!**
An atomic blast detonated inside his skull. Clamping a hand over his nose, Xu Peng bolted from the office like a shot.
